Del Rico Triplets #2: Retracing The Steps

Tarian Del Rico

Sneak peak

Sweat trickled down my forehead as I handled the car's steering wheel. My foot pushed down on the gas pedal, urging the car to pick up speed.

"Tarian, iisa lang ang grupong dumukot sa kanila. Herras. Konektado sa Hijazi pero hindi kilala ni Cloudius."

I clenched my jaw as my phone buzzed with three notifications, each one containing videos.

Isa isa kong binuksan iyon at tumambad ang kadiliman sa kalooban ko.

Solasta was tightly bound to a chair, her dress ripped apart, and she lay there unconscious. Her head hung low. I found myself in a hauntingly familiar situation, rendered powerless with my hands and feet bound just like before.

As I reached out with trembling fingers, I noticed it was Lieve this time, her mouth cruelly sealed with tape. She lay on a bed, but her determination to conceal her fear was palpable.

Malikot ang mata niya at naghahanap panigurado ng solusyon.  Pero hindi ko maiwasang hindi mag-alala at mabaliw sa nakikitang sugat sa kaniyang binti at mga galos sa braso at kamay.

I don't curse but bullshit on this! Nasisiguro kong ang kumuha sa kaniya ay mas mataas sa kumuha sa dalawa. They ensured she couldn't get away, knowing about her past. They harmed her, so she couldn't move freely.

Seeing both of them in that situation made me completely lose control. But seeing the innocent Lorelie tied to a wall, just like my mother was, pushed me into a very dark place.

Lahat ng pinilit kong kalimutan ay unti-unting bumabalik!

I halted the damn car to breathe or else I'd die before I could even save them. Naroon sila sa sitwasyong iyon dahil konektado sila sa akin!

"Tarian, I sent you their locations..." Eros voiced out.

Nabibingi ako sa mga tunog na naririnig ko. Nagsisimulang maging madilim ang tingin ko. Nilalamon ako ng mga aninong 'yon na pilit kong nilalabanan. My demons... they can't hunt me now. Not now.

I opened Eros'message. Magkakaibang lokasyon nga iyon at malaki ang agwat sa bawat isa.  I heard his heavy breathing from the other line.

"Just tell us which one of them you're going to save. We'll take care of the other," my cousin said.

Hinampas ko ang manibela! Shit! I'm in total mess right now! Parang ibinabalik ako sa nakaraan. Noong...paslit lamang ako. Walang nagawa. Walang magawa kundi matakot at tahimik na lumuha.
—
To Burn Steadily, soon on VIP Exclusive.